Indroduction

Carbon removal operates as a complex "system of systems," where technology, policy, finance, and communities must work in concert to achieve gigaton-scale impact. As the industry faces tighter capital markets and geopolitical uncertainty, success relies less on individual breakthroughs and more on building resilient, collaborative ecosystems that can adapt to changing conditions while maintaining transparency and accountability.

In this episode, Simon Bager, Co-Founder and COO at Klimate, speaks with Noah McQueen, Director of Science and Innovation at Carbon180, about CDR in a systems thinking perspective, geopolitical uncertainties, and resilience systems.

TL;DR

• Carbon removal is a "system of systems"—technology, policy, finance, and communities must work together for real impact.
• Success depends on building resilient, adaptable, and transparent ecosystems, not just technological breakthroughs.
• The Nordic region shows that even advanced systems can stall without community engagement.
• Scaling carbon removal now requires strategic, disciplined investment and a focus on proven solutions.
• Resilient carbon removal systems are diverse, locally adapted, redundant, and supported by evolving policy.
• Progress is measured by transparency, collaboration, infrastructure consolidation, and community integration.
• The sector’s collaborative culture and scientific rigor are its greatest strengths.
• Achieving gigaton-scale impact means shifting from rapid growth to building durable, honest, and adaptable infrastructure.

Systems Thinking in a CDR Perspective

Carbon removal operates within an interconnected web of systems—energy, materials, finance, policy, and community engagement. It’s not just about technology; it’s about ensuring that all supporting systems evolve together to scale effectively. Essential components include policy frameworks, financial infrastructure, public education, and robust monitoring standards. In the Nordic region, while technological and policy infrastructure is strong, the lack of public understanding and support has hindered progress. This highlights how even well-developed systems can stall if one element fails to keep pace.

Geopolitical Uncertainties in Capital Markets and Scaling CDR

The landscape for carbon removal has shifted, with the easy access to capital coming to an end. As interest rates rise and venture capital becomes more selective, carbon removal companies face a critical financing gap. Drawing lessons from the wind power sector, carbon removal must prioritise proven technologies that can demonstrate near-term success, maintain research pipelines, and focus on delivering on contracts. This strategic approach to capital allocation will be key in scaling infrastructure while managing rising costs and investor uncertainty.

Resilience Systems and High Accountability

Building resilient carbon removal systems requires diversity, redundancy, and adaptability. A robust portfolio should incorporate various methods, tailored to specific geographical contexts, with redundant infrastructure to ensure reliability. Policy frameworks must evolve with new evidence and provide long-term certainty for investors. Key indicators of resilience include increased transparency, stronger cross-sector collaboration, infrastructure consolidation, and community integration. These principles will be crucial for scaling carbon removal systems in a way that can adapt to changing conditions and meet long-term climate goals.

Conclusion

Carbon removal’s success depends on optimising the entire system—not just individual technologies. As the sector matures, the focus must shift from rapid scaling to building durable, resilient infrastructure capable of delivering gigaton-scale impact over decades.

This requires honest assessment of system weaknesses, strategic resource allocation, and continued collaboration across all stakeholders. The technical challenges are solvable—the real work lies in aligning the human systems that will determine whether carbon removal fulfils its critical role in addressing climate change.

The path forward demands both optimism and realism: optimism about the sector’s potential and the dedication of its participants, and realism about the complex, interconnected challenges that must be addressed to achieve lasting success.

If your organisation is ready to take meaningful climate action, consider Klimate as your partner in navigating the complexities of carbon removal.

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